Bookholder



April 3, 1934. w. v. JoHNsoN BOOKHOLDER Filed July 14, 1933 H... n, v..451.. ...M .05?.

l l l 1 l I i l l fluyen/for.' MMM Waal/maw Patented Apr. 3, 1934 NET 2Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in bookholders wherein a book issupported in a position which best complies with the readers wishes. Theobject of the invention is to provide a device of this kind whichoperates in a manner to maintain a book in open position and readilypermits the turning or the pages or" the book simultaneously preventingthe pages of the book from being accidentally displaced.

It will be observed that the construction and.

assembling of the several parts of my improved book-holder yields adevice of that kind which is simple, very economical to construct andrelatively more advantageous in its uses and operations.

In order that my improvements in book-holders may be better understood Iwill proceed to describe and clarify the same with reference to theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. I is a view in front elevation oi my bookholder, and

Fig. II is a side view.

1 in Fig. I is a flat four edged member having four right-angularcorners, and having affixed along two of its opposite edges a tubularconstruction as shown at 8.

2 in Fig. I is a plate of rectangular dimensions and as indicated a pairof said plates are slidably disposed in an opposed relation along thesurface of the flat member 1 so that said plates operate in parallel andthe faces of said plates are maintained at right-angles to the surfaceof the 'dat member l. Such disposition of plates 2 in relation to iiatmember 1 it is believed will allow said plates to be adjusted inconformity with the lengths of various books, inasmuch as the pair ofplates 2 operate singly and in opposition at the lower and upper ends oredges of a book.

It is further observed that a pair of exible uprights shown at 3 areprovided along one of the long edges of the plate 2. The uprights 3 areseen to be constructed at right-angles to the face of the plate 2, andit is purposed that the provision or" a pair of uprights 3 along theplate 2 will provide a means whereby the upper and lower edges oi' thecovers of a book, shown by 5 in Fig. I, may be substantially heldagainst accidental displacement, it is to be understood that thetendency of the upright 3 is to flex against the flat surface of theflat member l, such action therefore would result in a clamping as itwere of any object such as the cover of a book against the surface ofthe flat member l should such an object be slid between the upright 3and the Iiat member 1.

In the drawing it is seen that a lamination d is provided along thefaces or" the plates 2. The lamination e is frictional and ofnon-abrasive character, rubber sponge being an example of such amaterial. The reason for the lamination e is understood by reference toFig. I wherein it is observed that the upper and lower edges of thepages of a book shown at 6 are irictionally 65; engaged by the action ofthe lamination 4 provided along the surfaces of the plates 2. Such anarrangement allows that the pages of a book be maintained in an open andfixed position except when the reader desires to shift the pages or thebook.

7 is a bore penetrating the length of the tubular member 8 and as shownthe bore or tube '7 is parailel to the edge of the flat member l. Thepurpose o the tube S is to provide a means 75, whereby the flat member 1may be adjustably maintained in connection with and to a pair oftrapezoidally shaped supports indicated at 9. It is further purposedthat the tube 8 shall provide a connection whereby the longer side ofthe trapezoidally shaped support connected thru 7 may be slid thru '7 orrotated therein or both simultaneously only upon application ofsufficient force in the direction of the adjustment desired by thereader.

At 9 is shown a pair of trapezoidally shaped supports, having two sidesof unequal length and parallel and the two remaining sides oi equallength, the supports being of circular cross section. As shown in I saidsupports 9 are f l adjustably connected to two opposite edges of theflat member 1 by means of the tubular construction indicated at 8.

In Fig. II it is observed that the shorter sides of the elements 9provide a base upon which the combination rests. It is further noticedthat because of the uneven length of the two longer sides the longestand connecting side of 9 is maintained at an inclined angle withreference to the surface upon which the two shorter sides 10,0 rest, andsuch inclination of said longer and connesting side or 9 necessitatesthe similar inclination of the at member l, in Fig. I, with which it islaterally connected. Again it is seen that by rotating the elements 9about 8 the member 1 may be inclined backwardly or forwardly the angleof inclination being dependent on the backward or forward rotation ofthe elements 9. By the slidable operation of 9 thru the connection 8 themember 1 may be adjusted at convenient distances above the surface uponwhich the combination rests. By individual adjustment of the element 9slidably thru 8 it is obvious that many convenient and restful positionsof the flat member 1 with reference to the surface upon which thecombination rests may be secured.

In Fig. I a slot 10 is indicated along the rear portion of plate 2. Thepurpose of the slot 10 is to provide a means whereby the plate 2 may beslidably connected to the at member l, and as is shown in Fig. I theopposite ends of the flat member 1 are slidably adjusted thru the slot2.

A space 12 is arranged between the adjacent edges of the two uprights 3.Such an arrangement of a space 12 between the adjacent edges of theuprights 3 permits the back of a book to be positioned in the space 12with no interference to the clamping action exerted by uprights 3against book covers 11.

I claim:

1. A book-holder or similar device comprising a flat rectangular member,two similar slidable plates cooperating with the surface of the flatmember and arranged parallel to each other and at right angles to saidat member, flexible means extending along the plates and parallel tosaid flat member for clamping the upper and lower edges of a book coveragainst the said flat member, the faces of said plates having means forfrictionally engaging the upper and lower edges of the book pages andmeans slidably connecting said plates to said flat member.

2. A book-holder as dened in claim 1 in which Said at member is providedwith tubular members and trapezoidally shaped frames pivotally andslidably engaging said tubular members to support said at member indifferent positions.

WILLIAM VALSIE JOHNSON.

